MalteseLuna

Good thing SWF isn't a breed then right ;) I get very nervous when I see any dog approaching mine in a manner that I think is threatening - i.e. charging or "stalking". Generally it is just dogs happy to see another dog (over-excited) but unfortunately I have had too many experiences of my dog being chased, stalked, herded, pinned to the ground etc. There is only so much rough-handling a 2.5 kg dog can handle before being injured so I tend to avoid other dogs if possible. I do admit that when I see border collies or kelpies I get ansy - I don't think the breeds are bad it's just that prey instinct is strong and my dog does look like a rabbit or prey item when running/scared. I also avoid sighthounds that are off-lead - it's just too risky. Sure there are bcs, kelpies and sighthounds that are fine with small dogs but ... is it worth the risk? That said one of the loudest most annoying dogs I've met on our walks is another Maltese she just yaps and yaps and isn't too happy about strangers or dogs going within 10 m of her ;) Has anyone else noticed that some dogs are breedist i.e. prefer to play with or get excited when they see another dog of their breed? Mine always loves to see other Maltese (or swf breeds) or Pugs ... she just loves pugs! edited as I quoted the wrong person

Based upon my experience the only thing that will stop this is regular brushing behind the ears (being sure not to miss any spots). Also using a good quality de-tangler might help. I have used human and dog ones - they are very similar. If there are matts that I really don't want to cut out I cut into them (cut them into thirds etc.) to break them up and find that its much easier to work them out this way. What breed is your dog? Might help people provide useful answers...

I haven't used either of those places. I would recommend... Wagging Tails (http://www.waggingtails.com.au/) - Angela is absolutely wonderful. It might be a little far though. She is excellent with puppies and very well trained. If I could still get there easily I would continue going to her above all others. I have tried Dogue in Bondi Junction - it is okay but I stopped going there as they kept having puppies in the store (and I prefer to avoid pet shops with puppies in them). I have also used Paddo Pets (http://www.paddopets.com.au/) who are very nice and they seem to be quite good groomers. There is a VetMed grooming salon in Randwick that I have heard good things about. Remember generally not a good idea to take a puppy for grooming before they have been fully vaccinated. The main draw for me is (1) no puppies in the store, (2) no cage dryers, (3) willing to follow my instructions (i.e. If I say leave the top knot that means leave the top knot alone) I have now bought my own clippers as I want to groom her myself.

Nope and I read the whole thing ;) I will PM Nicestman77 when I have a sec :p Thanks Kylie

Luna has now been on BH for about a month and I love it - nice firm poos, she is in great condition and she LOVES the taste of the food! Thanks for producing such a great product!

Epigenetics is where DNA methylation can affect whether certain genes (or sets of genes) are turned "on" or "off". The methylation stops the transcription factors from binding to the DNA (transcription factors cause the DNA to be transcribed to RNA and then translated to protein), it could also cause the DNA to form a secondary structure inhibiting transcription factors from binding to the DNA in a whole region (making whole sets of genes "off"). It is absolutely fascinating. It is thought that some diseases where a specific mutation cannot be found could be caused by DNA methylation inhibiting gene expression. It is quite complex! It is like a different level of genetics and it is heritable (to a degree at least). Methylation in an upstream part of the DNA can inhibit gene expression downstream for quite a distance, it can also cause alternative splicing (i.e. instead of exon 1, 2, 3 you might get exon 1'A, 2 and 3 expressed...). I don't know of any studies on dogs specifically although they have done some studies on humans so far I think. If your lecturer/professor points you to some papers I would be interested in reading them as well (I'm a genetics major PhD student working on wild canids). Wikipedia might have some good general information for people wanting to know more!

HI everyone, I am just wondering if come experienced people could give me some advice concerning the care and storage of my clipper and blades? I recently bought a Wahl KM-2 with #4F, #10 and #30 blades. How should I protect my clipper blades from rust and keep them in top-condition? Should I get a blade wash? I have a can/bottle of "shaver guard" from the shaver shop but am unsure if it's suitable for this sort of clipper. Do I need to oil them after cleaning them with a blade wash? Also should I get a blade caddy or box for storing the blades? I recently clipped down my parent's old Shih tzu cross and it was awesome - though I am still learning the basics it sure beats the old el-cheapo clipper my parents had (we got it from K-mart about 10 years ago). Best Kylie

First off how big is your partners Maltese (it's just Maltese no terrier by the way ;))? I personally think that mixing large-medium dogs with toy dogs - especially working breeds is a recipe for disaster. It can work - but requires a lot of supervision and often separation when not supervised. I would look at other toy breeds or small dogs breeds - there are many to choose from! A cocker spaniel or sheltie might fit the bill - but I'm not familiar with energy requirements? A Shih Tzu or Lhasa Apso may also be a good choice - they are lovely placid breeds (bit larger than Maltese) which are coated.

I agree with Corvus. I think that growling is a legitimate form of communication between dogs i.e. for one dog to let another know that "what you just did is not okay" - my dog growls to tell off dogs that are jumping on her (ones she knows generally) and my parents dogs growl at her to put her in her place (if she is jumping on them). There are different growls - we aren't as good at discerning the differences as we aren't as good at "hearing" as dogs are. The staffy is clearly a reactive dog that should NOT be in off-lead scenarios. I hope the husky is okay (physically and 'emotionally')!

I'm currently doing a PhD in genetics - focusing on canines I did my undergraduate degree in genetics, evolutionary biology, ecology etc.

Those tests don't really work - they aren't based on very sound science at all. Yes it can be done more accurately but most commercial methods rely on 1-2 markers only.

The All life Stages and Lamb and Rice aren't grain free. This is why they have lower protein contents i.e. 21-24% All grain-free foods that I have seen have more than ~30% protein.

I'm a proud purebred Maltese owner (she is papered and on LR) They are a fantastic breed - unfortunately because they are small, white, cuddly they are used in crossbreeding alot. Most Maltese that I see do not look purebred and few people know what Luna is... I have been asked if she is a spoodle (huh?!?), poodle, Maltese x Shih Tzu... etc Maltese is the breed name - they are not terriers (never have been) - they are closely related to the Bichon and are actually a small spaniel. I will have to start visiting the DOL sydney meet to show everyone what a real Maltese looks like - not one in a show cut though I think alot of people get deterred by the grooming - it is extensive even if you keep them short (as this is $$ etc.). The poor fools who buy Maltese crosses don't know what they are in for - grooming nightmare!!!

I did it because I knew that Maltese sometimes have liver issues which can affect their response to anesthetic and it seemed like a good idea to screen for health issues before going ahead with a major surgery. I think it was about $65 dollars...

If you don't want a dog that sheds MASSIVELY don't pick a CKCS or a Pug. Tumbleweeds of hair come out of these breeds :D Instead pick a breed that has "hair" like a Maltese, Poodle, Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso, Bichon Frise etc. There are plenty to choose from. Just be sure you are willing to deal with the grooming requirements.

There is a DNA test available that can test for purity. There are other differences such as larger canines in proportion to a dog skull of the same size. Dingos are a wolf in the subspecies Canis lupis dingo, but unfortunatley due to domestic dogs social structure and breeding experts believe dingos could be extinct in the next 20 years. True there would not be enough animals in captivity to preserve the species and it can be difficult to keep them in captivity in any more than pairs due to the nature of their social structure. This is probably why most zoos only keep a couple of dingos at a time. Karen Actually the most recent scientific evidence suggests that they are a a dog i.e. Canis lupus familiaris dingo not a subspecies of the wolf i.e. Canis lupus dingo. The problem with dingo-dog hybridisation has been largely brought about because dingo control measures (baiting, culling etc) break apart the natural dingo pack structure making them more easily infiltrated by wandering domesticated dogs. Additionally culling and baiting allows non-dominant females to begin breeding as well (no social structure to inhibit) so there are more females breeding + less social barriers to dogs-dingoes breeding... more hybrids... Of course its more complicated than this but that's the simple story. Once hybrids are present in the wild they are much better at integrating into wild dingo packs so the cycle continues. There are similar issues found in wild populations of buffalo, wild cats etc where domesticated forms are hybridizing with the wild species and posing serious threats to the wild species integrity. They are essentially an ancient undifferentiated dog with an east-asian origin. They are closely related to other ancient dogs (Pariah dogs) like the Basenji, NGSD etc. Their not being a wolf doesn't mean they aren't important - they play a huge role in the ecology of Australia as they are the top-level terrestrial carnivore and help to exclude invasive introduced species like feral cats and foxes. Additionally they show humans what the original dog might have looked and behaved like. There is a DNA test available - UNSW scientists run this test (and developed it). There are a number of sanctuaries which have largeish populations of dingoes (upwards of 15 dingoes each) - these sanctuaries sole purpose is to preserve and conserve the dingo unlike Zoos which are largely interested in profits. Alot of the zoos are phasing out dingoes as they don't draw big crowds like the elephants, hippos, tigers etc. It is very sad that Australian wildlife isn't given pride of place in Australian zoos - we have some of the most unique animals in the world which are found nowhere else i.e. Marsupials and Monotremes. If anyone has questions or wants to learn more I am happy to direct you to papers/books and answer questions (if I can) - just PM me. I am currently involved in scientific research on the dingo

I prefer to avoid GTG as I dislike their tactics to get patents additionally their prices are insanely high given the method of testing they use (mainly restriction digest) ... which is very cheap. We can only hope that one day patents on genes will be nullified and labs can competitively price genetic tests.

Why not suggest comfortis for the fleas - it only controls fleas and its apparently quite effective (more so than Frontline). Of course the friend may need to treat the environment as well to get the fleas under control.

Can I use Comfortis with Sentinel Spectrum or/and Frontline to control all the parasites - fleas, worms, heartworms and ticks? Alternatively I've been told I can use Interceptor with Comfortis (fleas, worms, heartworm... no ticks)...

*giggle* it's okay - I just can't stop myself from correcting people about Maltese

I'm considering feeding this to my dog as I think she has lost condition on Ziwipeak (and other brands) and her stools are often loose on Ziwipeak, Innova Evo etc. I've emailed the NSW distributor to see if I can get a sample to try on her - or I will buy a 3KG bag. It's funny buying a bag of food that is larger than your dog

There is no such thing as a Maltese terrier... the breed is Maltese and they aren't a terrier but rather a spaniel closely related to the Bichon Frise. It's my pet peeve to hear the Maltese referred to as a terrier Sorry All dogs of any size need socialization to become good pets. Mostly dogs have "attitude problems" because of their upbringing not their breed. I wanted to mention that my Maltese is very quiet and only barks if there is something strange going on i.e. person in front yard or stranger outside. She never barks at visitors inside as some dogs do. I also wanted to mention that if a Maltese is kept in a "puppy cut" (short) then you don't have to brush them as often - a weekly brush would be sufficient. My Maltese is currently in a longer cut (about 8 cm long on body and legs with face and tail about 12 cm long) and I only have to brush her every other day to keep her tangle free. It depends on the coat and activity of the dog. A correct silky coat is actually very easy to care for - it's the woolly or cotton incorrect coat that is harder to care for (this is what most pet shop Maltese have).

Maltese are absolutely divine and would fit the bill. They are a very sweet natured and cuddly breed and who don't shed (their hair does need to be brushed and cut regularly as it will grow to the floor). I find that mine does enjoy walks, playing etc but she is equally happy curled up on the sofa reading with me or watching tv. One thing that you must be aware of is that little dogs who don't shed much need to be groomed. This means brushing atleast every few days (preferably daily) and if you wish to keep their hair short they must be clipped every 6-8 weeks. This can cost upwards of $60 per clip at a groomer. Some people buy clippers and diy but you might need to learn how properly first. The key to getting a well behaved dog (of any size) is socialization with people and other dogs.

We recently moved into a new house :D however within 3 hrs of being in the new house Luna was covered in fleas. Apparently the new area has very sandy soil and fleas love to live in it. We are nearing the tail end of flea season but poor Luna really needs some help! The local vet suggested I put her on comfortis which I am fine with but then said I would need to give her the heartworm injection (which I don't wish to do) - can I combine comfortis with Sentinal spectrum, advantage/advantix, frontline etc to help control worms, heartworm, ticks and fleas? The main issue seems to be that each time Luna goes into the new yard (lovely and grassy) she comes back with a new load of fleas. We don't have much furniture in the house yet - mainly boxes so I haven't done much in the house yet. I treated the back yard with pyrethrin but the fleas still seem to be hopping/alive. I haven't treated indoors yet - I have some bombs but need to organise to move the cat and dog out of the house to do the bombs. Does anyone have some tips for treating the house and yard and helping to keep Luna parasite free? I really want to know what I can combine with comfortis to keep all the other parasites controlled as well. Kylie

I've never heard of that being a common issue in Maltese :D luxating patella's yes... collapsing ankles NO.